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Turkey's Former Top Soldier Arrested Over Alleged Coup Plot

By

Ayla Albayrak

Updated Jan. 6, 2012 3:28 p.m. ET

ISTANBUL—Gen. Ilker Basbug, Turkey's top soldier until 2010, was jailed Friday morning, the highest ranking officer arrested to date in a group of court cases alleging a terrorist plot to topple the government.

The former Chief of the General Staff was taken to jail to await trial following an hours-long interrogation by prosecutors Thursday afternoon. Shortly after midnight, a court accepted the prosecutors' request to formally detain Gen. Basbug.